Decency is now a value exclusive to 'leftys'

AUSTRALIA, Sydney: Supporters carry a banner reading 'marriage equality' during a rally for 'Marriage Equality' held in Sydney on August 13, 2016 before the return of Parliament. (AAP Image/NEWZULU/Richard Milnes).Richard Milnes

SINCE when did decency, free thought and compassion become traits exclusive to the 'left'?

I've lost count of the number of times I've been labelled a lefty, snowflake, even a twit, over the past few months, for making public my views on the same-sex marriage issue.

I've been called far worse four-letter words ending with the letter 'T', so that bit doesn't worry me.

What puzzles me is the vigour with which these conservatives who fire up at me cling to this position of being anti-equality.

They clutch it like a badge of honour.

"I'm conservative, and if you're different, you're not equal."

That's essentially the position being taken by those opposed to same-sex marriage, they may as well scream it from the streets, such is the anger sparked in them at the prospect of homosexuals being given equal rights.

I'm yet to find anyone who can explain how the prospect of two people of the same sex marrying, probably complete strangers, will affect their lives in any way.

Literally no one I've asked has been able to outline how it will impact on them. I would've thought that was the strongest possible reason to vote yes.

When I ask people to explain how it affects them they respond by calling me a troll, a twit or a snowflake.

Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing.

People have a right to oppose same-sex marriage and express that opinion.

But that freedom doesn't shield you from being criticised or questioned for holding that opinion, much like I invite criticism in publishing this column every week.

Speaking your mind is your right.

Imposing your opinion without explanation is not.

Religion is the only real argument I've seen made against marriage equality to-date.

And sorry, but it's my opinion that just because something doesn't sit quite right with you, or is at odds with your religion (which by the way also tells you to love everyone), it is not reason enough to oppose equality.

Some have called marriage equality progress. Let's be clear, it's not progress.

It's levelling the ledger. Putting a minority on a level playing field with the rest of the population.

That's not progress. That's catching up.

We're miles behind other countries in our approach to human rights and how we treat those different to us.

Look at how long it took indigenous people to get a vote and how we treat asylum seekers, that should be enough to get you started.

I'd consider myself a free-thinking individual not bound to the values of any particular party, race or religion.

My voting history over the past decade would also suggest I'm far from a lefty.